Tips for parents and kids in the battle against bullying

(WXYZ) - As kids get back to school, experts say it's a good time for parents to talk to them about bullying.

Action News visited Back to School: Confidence Camp at the Franklin Athletic Club. Children are taught how important confidence .. especially in the battle against bullying.

The week-long camp is put on by 'Kids Empowered'. Corrie Chansler is a youth instructor and talks about the power of words.
As a new school year begins, Chansler says it's a great time for parents to have a conversation with their children about bullying.
Kids we talked to say they've experienced it.

Nicole Houston, who's 7 years-old, says someone said mean things to her like "I hate your clothes". She says it made her feel sad.

Hannah Tilds says "My other friend said some stuff behind my back and i was really upset by that."

Chansler demonstrates how important body language is when projecting confidence. Standing up tall is a huge part of that.

"A mean kid or bully may not know you're freaked out on the inside, but on the outside you look like you're sending a message to them you cannot treat me like that," says Chansler.

Chansler recommends parents get kids involved in different groups or clubs where they may develop a stronger support system by making new friends.

Kids Empowered also offers these tips:

*Tell your children when someone is mean to them to try 3 different times to get it to stop. If the child comes back to you on the 4th time then you would report it to the teacher.

It is important that the parent follow up with the teacher to ensure action was taken to stop.

*Kids and parents need to know that sometimes what the teacher tries doesn't work that they need to report it again if it keeps happening. Often kids think nothing can be done if it doesn't work the first time.

*Parents should talk to their kid about how they treat kids and that they should be friendly to everyone even kids who are not their friends. The more allies they have in school the less likely they will be bullied and the more likely other kids will stand up for them.

* If we are going to decrease the meanness and bullying then we need the bystanders to speak up again the meanness. Parents need to talk to their children about how to do that and support them in that. The school is a community and everyone in the community needs to help in making it an inclusive place where it is know meanness is not accepted.

*Try to keep the lines of communication open by asking your children if there is anyone be left out or bullied or mistreated.

Meantime, kids say Confidence Camp is really a nice lesson before heading back to school.

"Words can hurt you.. you can't ever take them back once you say it," says Hannah Tilds.

"Stand up for yourself, says 11 year-old Zachary Bennefield.

Chansler says "Build our kids with as much confidence to believe in themselves and stick up for others too."

To learn more about Kids Empowered go to www.girlsempowered.com and www.boysempowered.com